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Articling Fellowships give law students option to pursue public interest issues

TORONTO, Jan. 30 /CNW/ - The Law Foundation of Ontario recently awarded a
sixth fellowship through The LFO Public Interest Articling Fellowship Program
- a pioneering initiative it began in the spring of 2005. The Canadian Civil
Liberties Association (CCLA) - a national organization committed to advancing
civil liberties in Canada - has been chosen to host a 2007-2008 an articling
fellow, and will join the ranks of the five other organizations selected last
year. They include: Amnesty International Canada (Ottawa), Barbra Schlifer
Commemorative Clinic (Toronto), Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest
Clinic (Ottawa), Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (Toronto) and the Public Interest
Advocacy Centre (Ottawa).
By providing financial backing to organizations that would otherwise have
no access to funds for an articling position, the LFO is encouraging students
to pursue public interest law. Larry Banack, Chair of the LFO sees the program
as an important opportunity to further the LFO's mandate, which is to
ultimately promote access to justice.
"Once the organizations are selected, the LFO pays for the articling
student's compensation and Bar Admission Course," explained Banack. "The end
result is that both the student and the organization will reap the benefits of
a rewarding articling experience," he added.
The LFO is working in partnership with the national office of Pro Bono
Students Canada (PBSC) an organization dedicated to mobilizing students across
Canada to embark on the pro bono tradition in the legal profession. "PBSC is
proud to administer this program," explained PBSC Director Noah Aiken-Klar,
"which enables students to contribute their energy, creativity and legal
skills to Ontario public interest organizations that provide essential
services to communities in need. We are thrilled to welcome the CCLA into what
is already an extraordinary group of organizations, and to support their work
promoting respect for and observance of fundamental human rights."
The LFO and PBSC thank the Selection Committee of distinguished leaders
from the judiciary and legal profession who had the difficult task of choosing
the final fellowship recipient to participate in the 2007-08 program: Chief
Justice Roy McMurtry, former LFO Board Chair Don Guthrie, current LFO trustee
Lorne Sossin, LFO Executive Director Mary Brown and Executive Director of Pro
Bono Law Ontario Lynn Burns. This program has also received support from the
Law Society of Upper Canada and Career Development professionals at all the
Ontario law schools.
For information on the Fellowship program, contact Noah Aiken-Klar at
noah.aikenklar@probonostudents.ca or call (416) 946-0519 or visit
www.lawfoundation-on.org .